Abel febitandez



A. FERNANDEZ.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OUT SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. I918 1,814,470. PatentedAug. 26,1919.

flaf 'kr/rcmaez Emma ABEL FERNANDEZJOF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 01 COLUMBIA.

AUTOMATIC QUT-OUT SWITCH.

Specification of letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2c, 1919.

Application filed March 2, 1918. Serial No. 220,085.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABEL FERNANDEZ, a citizen of Mexico, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Cut-Out Switches, of which the following is'a specification.

This inventionrelates to improvements in automatic cut-outs orcircuit closing devices and-it is the principal object of the invention to provide an automatic cut-out switch for use in connection with service lines whereby the overloading of the lines either fraudulent ornnintentionally will be positively prevented; thedevice serving to m- 'stantly break the circuit through the line shoul the same be overloaded at any time and to maintain the same open until man ually closed.

Another and equally important object of the invention is to. provide an automatic cut-out switch having means whereby the same can be opened or closed manually, irrespective of the automatic means, should it be desired.

In order'that the invention and the mannor of its application may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I have in the accompanying illustrative drawings and in the detailed following description based thereon, set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan of the improved cut-out,

Fig. 2 is a detail partly in section showing the means for securing the spring contact arms to the switch base, i

, Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section therethrough,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sec-- tion through the handle,

. Fi 5 is a transverse section through the slida le contact showing the mode of mountig. 6 is a longitudinal section therethrough, I

Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of the cam bearing element,

t Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail in perspective of one of the contact elements, and

- Fig. 9 is. a detail in section showing the adjusting connection for the thermal element.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like reference characters will designate correspondmg parts throughout the several views, 1 represents the base of the improved switch, which as will be understood is formed of porcelain or other insulating material and has spaced lugs or brackets 2formed thereon, certain of which are apertured to permit the passing of anelectrical conductor therethrough', while ways 3 are formedwin each thereof and serve to retain elements hereinafter described.

Circuit closing elements 4 and 5 are ar- I ranged on the base 1 and as will be noted comprise arms formed of spring metal having slots 6 formed therein adjacent certain of their ends, which ends are received in the ways formed in said lugs and securely held to the insulatingbase against displacement by engaging set screws 6 therein, By rea- I son of the apertures formed in certain of the spaced lugs, electrical conductors 7 and 7 may be passed therethrough into engagement with the adjacent ends of said elements and connected thereto by a drop of solder or similar conducting material. Mounted on the base in proximity to the outer or free end of the element 4 is a'bracket8 having its opposite end upturned and a ertured whereby an insulated switch operating han dle 9 may be received therethrough said handle being formed of sections'connected by the threaded bolt 9. In this connection, it will be also noted that the adjacent end of the element at is apertured and is received upon the arm 9 in order that it may be positively engaged with the adjacent upturned end of the bracket 8. Other upturned portions are formed upon. one side of the bracket 8 and have a spring arm 10 secured therein, which arm serves in the capacity of the latch means for the switch, by having the outer end of the same disposed to engage other circuit closing elements, hereinafter adjusting screw being mounted in suitable screw 14 is adjusted to render the thermalelement quite loose. Therefore, upon the heating of .said thermal element, the same will be permitted to quickly expand to its maximum and in this way release the contacts. To delay the breaking of the circuit, the screw 14 is then adjusted to render the thermal element taut and as a consequence the same will be caused to expand .to a greater extent before the contacts will be released. In this -way, the thermal element can be easily adjusted to effect the release of the various contacts at predetermined periods.

Other spring arms 16 and 17 are arranged on the base 1 in proximity to the opposite side thereof and as will be noted, are formed with projections, similar to the slots 6 in order that the same maybe permanently engaged between their respective spaced bosses. To limit movement of the free end of the arm 17,a stop 18 is arranged on said base and, obviously is adapted to be engaged I by said free endof the arm 17 under normal conditions. Arranged on the free portion of the arm 16 is a contactelement 19, the same being. insulated from said arm by means of a sleeve 20 formed of insulating material. To the free end of the contact element 19, one end of a branch conductor 21 is secured, while the remaining end of said conductor is secured as at 22 to the ket 13, and therefore has connection with the thermal. element 12. In this connection, attention is directed tothe fact that the outer end of -the arm 16 is arranged in By so forming the contact 24, a yield;

proximity to the spring catch element 10. Carried upon the free portion of the arm 17 and insulated therefrom through the medium of a sleeve 23 is another contact element 24, this contact element, as will be noted, being bent forwardly in order. that the same will be normally maintained in relation from the element .or arm able connection between the same and the contacts 19 is obtained, hence, insuring" the closing of an electrical circuit. To the contact 24 one end of an electrical conductor 25 is secured, which conductor, as will be understood, forms a portion of one side of the circuit controlled by the switch.

A seat or way 26 isformed in theupper face of the base 1 andslidably carried by said handle 9,

the conductors the handle 9 is receives therein a. contact element 27,.one end of which is upturnedas at 28 and is adapted to be engaged, at times, with the contact element 5. As means for normally maintaining the contact 27 in proper position with relation to the contact element 5, a coilspring 29 is arranged about the shank portionof the same and as will be understood, has suitable connection with a portion of said base. An electrical conductor 30 is connected to the contact 27 and of course, forms the remaining portion of the opposite side of the circuit in which the switch is interposed.

A cord or like connection 31 is arran ed on the base 1' and is passed over a suite le guide or pulley 35 secured thereto, one end of the same being engaged with the handle 9 as at 36, while the remaining end is engaged with a portion of the contact 27. Arranged upon the base 1 at a point adjacent the shank of the handle 9 is a cam bearing element 37 which is adapted to be engaged by a laterally disposed finger 38 which finger is adapted to be arranged in a rabbeted portion or seat 37 formed on the upper marginal portion of said element 37, thus serving as means for holding the handle 9 in its adjusted position against rotation until the same is released. Hence, when the handle 9 is rotated, the cord 31 will be coiled about the shank portion of the handle, while. the finger 38 will cause said handle to move inwardly, thus effecting disengagement of the adjacent portion of the contact element 4 with the adjacent upturned end of the bracket 8.

To connect the elements 5 and 16, an insulated bolt 39 is provided and has its opposite ends passed through suitable openings formed in said elements and secured thereto by means of locking nuts 40 or similar fastening devices. In this way, complemental movement of said elements 5 and 16 will be caused.

In operation, to close the circuit through pushed inwardly, thus engaging and moving the free end of the arm 16 inwardly whereupon the contacts-d9 and 24 will be engaged. At this time,'the free end of the latch member 10 will snap under the free end of the element 16 and in consequence, maintain the contacts 19 and 24 in engagement. Simultaneously with movement of the element 16,

the contact element 5 will be moved into engagement with the'contact 27, thus completing the clrcuit; current p from f the conductor. 7 through the element 4 and bracket 8-into the thermal element 12 from the arm 10 from where it flows via the conductor 21 through the contacts 19 and 24;

into the conductor 25 )to the object receiving the same, the current returning through 37 and as a consequence, permitting free the conductor 30, and the contact 27 to the arm 5 and thence, to the conductor 7 back to the source of energy. Assumin that the thermal element 12 is contracte it of course will be understood that the latch member 10 will be maintained in engagement with the free end of the element 16 and as a. consequence, the circuit will be held closed. -However, should the line be overloaded either fradulently or by short circuit, the thermal element 12 will become heated due to the excessive load and upon expansion will permit disengagement of the stop 10 from the free end of the element 16, whereupon said element 16 and element 5 will instantly move to their normal positions, thereby, openin or breaking the oil'- cuit through the e ect'rical conductors. Should it 'be desired to break or open the circuit by the manually operated means, the

handle 9 is rotated, thus causing the pulling of the contact 27,. as well as the inward jmovement of said handleid-ue to the provision of the cam bearing surface 37 and.

Such movement will of.

the finger 38. course cause the portion 28 of the contact 27 to move in a direction to cause disengage ment of the same form from said element 5. Also, the back portion of the contact element 4 as e aged with the shank of the handle 9 Will e moved out of engagement with the adjacent upturned portion of the bracket 8, thereby positively breaking the circuit through the conductors. The circuit may be again closed by pushing the handle 9 outwardly, thereby causing "disengagement of the finger 38- from the rabbeted portion rotation of said handle and the return of the contact 27 to its normal engaging position. In this way, it will be appreciated that the cut-out may be operated irrespective ofwthe automatic means comprising the thermal element 12.

Manifestly, the constructionshown' is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is within the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In an automatic cut-out switch, a base,

contact elements arranged on. said base,

other contact elements arranged on the base and engageable with said first contact elements, spring latch means for maintaining the second mentioned contact elements in engagement with said first contact elements, ad3ustable thermal means connected to saidlatching means for releasing the latching means and retaining the vsame in an adusted position, a handle rotatably and slidably arranged on the base adapted to be engaged with one of said second mentioned contact elements, and means connected with said handle and one of the first mentioned of thesame from said second mentioned contact element, at times.

2. In an automatic cut-out switch, a base, contact elements arranged .on said base, other contact elements arranged on the base and engageable with said first contact elements, spring latch means for maintaining the second mentioned contact'elements in engagement with saidfirst contact elements, adjustable thermal means connected to said latching means for releasing the latching means and retaining the same in an adjusted position, a cam bearing element arranged adjacent one side of the base, a fixed contact arranged in proximity to said bearing element, a handle rotatably and slidably received on the base adjacent said cam bearing surface and fixed contact, 9. laterally extending finger carried by the handle engageable with the cam bearing element, a movable spring contact element normally engaged with said fixed contact element and connected to a portion ofsaid handle and means connected with the handle and one of said first mentioned contact elements for causing disengagement of the same from its respective second mentioned contact, at times.

3. In an automatic cut-out switch, a base,

independent contacts on said base, interconnected movable contact arms on the base insulated from each other and engageable with their respective contacts, latch means ment with said contact arms, a cam bearing element arranged on the base, and a handle. rotatably and slidably mounted on thebase engageable with said cam bearing means for effecting initial engagement of the contact arms with their contacts.

- 4. In an automatic cut-out switch, a. base,

independent contacts, on said base, one of the contacts being slidably engaged with the base, interconnected movable contact arms on the base insulated from each other and engageable with said contacts, spring latch means on the base engageable with one of said arms for releasably maintaining each of the arms in engagement with their respective contacts, a thermal element con-v nected at one end to the base and at its other end to said latch means for normally maintaining the latch means in engagement with said contact arm, manual means for effecting initial engagement of the contact arms with their respective contacts, and

means connecting the manualirlrlileansto said I slidable-contacts for causing ovement of the same in a direction toward its respective to said spring latch arm for normally maincontact arms upon operation of said manual taining the latch arm in engagement with means. i said contact arms, a cam bearlng element on 5. In an automatic cut-out switch, a base, the base, an operating element rotatably and 5 independent contacts on said base, one of slida'bly mounted on the base engageable 2o the'contacts being slidably engaged with the With said cam bearing element, and means base, interconnected movable contact arms for connecting the operating element to said on the base insulated from each other and slidable contact for effecting movement of engageable with the contacts, a spring latch the same in a direction toward its respective 10 arm secured to the base and engageable with contact arm upon rotation of the operating 25 one of said contact arms for releasably element. maintaining each of the arms in engage- In testimony whereof, I afiix my signa ment with their respective contacts, a therture hereto. mal element adjustably connected at one end 15 to the base and connected at its other end ABE-L FERNANDEZ. 

